The 6-foot-6 senior has been named the Gatorade Alabama Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year after winning the Class 6A discus title with a throw of 176 feet, 1 inch and adding the 6A shot put title with a throw of 54-3.75 at the state meet in Gulf Shores last month. He helped Huntsville finish fifth as a team.

Hill's season-best discus throw of 203-7 ranked among the nation’s best discus throws for high school school competitors this season.

“Grant is a big, strong kid who is super-intelligent and works hard,” Huntsville track coach Terrance Young said. “He’s really studied the technique for the discus and the shot, and he’s performed at a very high level.”

Hill, ranked No. 5 on the 2012 A-List, also maintained a 3.23 GPA in the classroom, according to the news release announcing the award, and has volunteered locally on behalf of a soup kitchen and youth sports programs.

Hill signed to play football at Alabama after starring as an offensive tackle last fall. He is expected to play guard for the reigning BCS national champs.

He is the first Huntsville High athlete to win the Gatorade Alabama Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year winner. He becomes the second Alabama football signee to win the award in the last decade, following Foley's Julio Jones' win in 2007.